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Preventing or treating epithelial tissue damage or hair lossRelated Patent Categories: Drug, Bio-affecting And Body Treating Compositions, In Vivo Diagnosis Or In Vivo TestingPreventing or treating epithelial tissue damage or hair loss description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060104901, Preventing or treating epithelial tissue damage or hair loss. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention pertains to a method for preventing and/or treating epithelial tissue damage, such as is effected by inflammatory reactions, ageing or cancer and/or to prevent and/or treat hair loss. In particular, the present invention relates to substances and/or compositions modifying, in particular blocking endogenous CD.sub.1d function. According to another aspect the present invention also provides a method for screening for compounds suitable for use in the method and the composition of the present invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0002] The most prominent epithelial tissue in living beings is the skin, which represents the largest organ in the organism. The system of skin integument, which comprises the epidermis, dermis and the stratum cornium, correlates with those of internal organs and concurrently interacts with the surroundings. Being the interface between the environment and organism itself, the skin is heavily influenced by external factors and also variable parameters of the organism's inner system. The skin's regulative mechanisms need, therefore, always be active to induce systemic changes necessary to maintain normal pathological events concerning skin integument morphology and activities. A great deal of processes assuring the adequate consumption of increased affluence of energetic and plastic substances according to the skin's needs become guarantors of morphological and functional stability of skin structures. So, the state of integuments determines the realization of metabolic processes necessary for skin cell viability and activity leading to the presence of healthy skin peculiarities such as barrier function, elasticity, turgor properties, humidity, pigmentation etc. [0003] During the lifetime of a living being different signs, characteristic of ageing, appear on the skin, with the principal clinical signs being the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles which increase or are accentuated with age. Moreover, the skin's complexion is generally modified and diffuse irritations and occasionally telangiectasias may come into existence on certain areas. [0004] These signs of ageing are even promoted by exposure of the skin to exogenous influences, such as e.g. UV-radiation, pollutants, free radicals or chemical substances. [0005] Moderate UV exposure generally causes the well known effects of reddening the skin with an accompanying inflammation reaction, known as erythema. This phenomenon, often referred to as "sunburn", is painful and commonly results in a subsequent peeling of the skin. [0006] Moreover, excessive UV-exposure of the skin may also lead to the onset of severe disorders, such as carcinogenesis, the most common tumours being the basal cell carcinoma (BCC), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and more rarely malignant melanoma. Apart from damages on the DNA-level also immuno-suppression caused by UV exposure seems to account for both, non-melanoma and melanoma cancer promotion. It is presently acknowledged that photo-induced immuno-suppression permits the initiated tumour cell to evade recognition and rejection by normal immunological mechanisms, to remain latent for extended periods, and to eventually proliferate into a tumour. This concept concurs with the findings that immuno-compromised patients, whether genetically (xeroderma pigmentosum) or pharmacologically, such as e.g. organ transplant recipients, have a higher incidence of skin cancer as compared to people with a properly functioning immune system. [0007] In the art several means have been proposed to prevent destructive effects of environmental factors on epithelial cells, in particular skin epithelial cells. [0008] As regards protection to sun radiation "sun blocks" or "sunscreens" have been made available, which are applied to the skin prior to sun exposure. Typically, sunscreen compositions contain chemical agents, such as certain benzophenones, dibenzylmethanes or substituted paraaminobenzoates, i.e. compounds absorbing ultraviolet radiation, so that it cannot penetrate the skin. However, some of the compounds used for this purpose have shown to lack sufficient light stability and may even become toxic over long term application. In addition, they must stay continuously on the surface of the skin at the time of exposure to be effective. However, sunscreens are easily rubbed off or washed off by sweating or swimming and can also be lost by penetration into the skin. [0009] Another means to prevent skin deterioration or ageing, respectively, is to provide compounds scavenging free radicals. In this respect EP 0 761 214 discloses singlet oxygen quenchers comprising aniline derivatives and difurfuryl amine derivatives, which are reported to reduce the oxidative stress to the skin. [0010] Yet, all these means and methods are not sufficiently capable to protect the skin from the growing challenge in our environment. To this contributes an increased atmospheric pollution and also social behaviour, according to which sun-tan is associated with health, beauty and status. As a consequence many people expose their skin to sun radiation to acquire a tan in spite of the negative results accompanying such behaviour being well known. This problem even gets more prominent with the ozone shield covering the earth becoming thinner, resulting in a heavier exposure of living beings to UV radiation. [0011] Consequently there is a need in the art to provide a better protection of the skin to environmental factors, such as stress or sun radiation. [0012] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide such means in order to protect the skin from unfavourable influences encountered in the environment, in particular from oxidative or chemical stress or sun radiation. [0013] This problem has been solved by providing a substance, that is capable to essentially modify, in particular block the endogenous CD.sub.1d function in epithelial cells. [0014] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0015] FIG. 1A. Wild-type mice exhibit skin damage (burning) following exposure to a single dose (86 mJ/m.sup.2) of UVB radiation. [0016] FIG. 1B. Wild-type mice exhibit skin damage (burning) following exposure to a single dose (86 mJ/m.sup.2) of UVB radiation. (Close-up). [0017] FIG. 1C. CD1d knockout mice show no obvious signs of skin damage following exposure to a single dose (86 mJ/m.sup.2) of UVB radiation. [0018] FIG. 1D. CD1d knockout mice show no obvious signs of skin damage following exposure to a single dose (86 mJ/m.sup.2) of UVB radiation. (Close-up). [0019] FIG. 2. Difference in degree of UVB-induced skin damage between wild-type (Right) and CD.sub.1d knockout (Left) mice exposed to two doses (86 mJ/m.sup.2) of UVB radiation. [0020] FIG. 2A. Damaged (lesions) dorsal skin of wild-type mice exposed to two doses (86 mJ/m.sup.2) of UVB radiation (Close-up). [0021] FIG. 2B. Undamaged dorsal skin of CD.sub.1d knockout mice exposed to two doses (86 mJ/m.sup.2) of UVB radiation. Continue reading about Preventing or treating epithelial tissue damage or hair loss... Full patent description for Preventing or treating epithelial tissue damage or hair loss Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Preventing or treating epithelial tissue damage or hair loss patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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